State pol visits Bellingham mill

Thursday

May 24, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 24, 2007 at 1:36 PM

Amber Herring/STAFF WRITER

BELLINGHAM — State Undersecretary of Business Development Robert Coughlin dropped by the Caryville Mill site Monday to see how the commonwealth can help the town reach the $500,000 to $800,000 goal for cleanup and demolition.

"This isn’t about trying to get around environmental priorities," said Coughlin, a former Dedham state representative. "We’re just trying to get government to work together. If everybody agrees (on a project), let’s get it done in a timely fashion."

Coughlin and town officials strolled around the deteriorating mill — contaminated with asbestos, lead paint and pesticides — which the town plans to convert into affordable units for seniors, once it gets past the environmental hurdles.

"We’ve been at this project for five years," said Town Administrator Denis Fraine. "For the first time I really feel like something is happening with this project. We’ve come a long way."

Cleanup of the Pearl Street mill is estimated to cost the town $500,000 to $800,000, said Fraine.

Coughlin is from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, which distributes money for economic and work force development and technical assistance grants. He asked town officials Monday what the state can do to help.

"The biggest obstacle we face right now is the cleanup," said Fraine, who added construction cannot begin until cleanup and demolition are complete.

"We want to get business, developers and environment working together," said Coughlin. "Like the governor says, ‘Create government at the speed of business.’ " Coughlin plans to help the town speed up the process by looking into different ways to fund the cleanup.

The town already has about $300,000 — $200,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency and $100,000 earmarked in the House budget, said Fraine.

Developers from Investar Redevelopment, Dave Dunham and Dave Consigli, said the plan is to build about 120 affordable units for seniors, including 80 assisted-living units and 40 or more independent units.

"As a developer, it’s much easier to budget and succeed if it’s in a timely manner," said Coughlin.

Getting building under way benefits the town by adding value, jobs and affordable housing to the town, said Coughlin.

"The real hope is to create a small village, retail-type area for people who live there, eventually," said state Rep. Jennifer Callahan, D-Sutton.

"In a nutshell, the most important component of the project is that it’s for the elderly," said Consigli.

Selectman Ann Odabashian, who has advocated strongly for the project, said many seniors want to stay in town, but cannot afford it. Many are on a three-year waiting list for affordable housing.

Consigli also wants to look into adding several single-family dwellings with an attached in-law room to the development, so relatives with families can house an aging family member.

"It’s something state of the art that the commonwealth doesn’t have in any state projects," said Consigli.

"It could be a new alternative to nursing homes. Also for families with relatives who can’t afford to or shouldn’t be living on their own," said Consigli.